By a wide margin, Nashvillians voted to create a new citizen-led panel to oversee the actions of the Metro police department, a move stemming from a decades-long push from black leaders in the city.

The Election Day victory for supporters of Amendment 1 to the Metro Charter came despite facing a massive fundraising disadvantage against the Nashville Fraternal Order of Police, which bankrolled efforts to defeat the measure.

The amendment passed by a margin of 59 percent to 41 percent — 134,135 votes to 94,055 — with all precincts reporting.

A coalition of social justice activists called Community Oversight Now led the push for the new board as way to create a check over claims of racial bias and other controversial actions of police. They argued the word of a police officer is too often taken for granted in disputes with the public.

But many police officers pushed back in a contentious local campaign that collided with high-turnout in the statewide elections for U.S. Senate and governor.

Here's what's next.

Appeal in lawsuit still to be taken up

David Raybin, the lead attorney for the Nashville FOP, pointed to the police union's ongoing legal fight against it, which will be taken up on appeal by the Tennessee Court of Appeals on Dec. 5. The police union has argued supporters did not collect enough signatures to put the referendum on the ballot.

"While the Amendment 1 referendum has apparently garnered a majority of votes according to early returns, the legality of the referendum is still an open question," Raybin said.

What it stems from

The ratification of Amendment 1 is inspired in part by recent shootings of two black men by white officers in Nashville and will change the city's charter by forming a new panel with investigative and compulsory powers to review arrests and police actions.

Community Oversight Now organized after a white Metro police officer in February 2017 shot and killed Jocques Clemmons, a 30-year-old black man, after a traffic stop at the James A. Cayce Homes public housing in East Nashville.

More recently, a white Metro police officer in July shot and killed 25-year-old Daniel Hambrick, who police say was armed, during a foot chase in a North Nashville community. Hambrick is black and the police officer, Andrew Delke, is white.

Who will be in charge

The board will include 11 people, all approved by the city council: seven from community organizations or by petition; two from the city council; two recommended by the mayor's office, organizers say.

According to the referendum language, four of those from the community must reside in "economically distressed communities."

Theeda Murphy, panelist and coalition member, said the board would exist solely in an advisory capacity.

"Those decisions (on punishment), are usually governed by the policy," Murphy said. "The COB has the ability to research those policies to determine effectiveness and the result of those policies on the community."

When it starts

Nashville Mayor David Briley, a liberal Democrat who opposed passage of Amendment 1, has said he supports the concept of community oversight of police, vowing to create an oversight panel via executive order if the amendment is defeated.

“The people of Nashville have spoken," Briley wrote in a statement Tuesday. "As I’ve said all along, I will support this amendment, and I will start by meeting with involved parties as early as next week.

Metro Council Attorney Mike Jameson said it will go into effect upon certification by the election commission.

That could take anywhere from 10 days to two weeks but because of the high voter turn out this year, authorities said, it may take longer.

How it will work

The panel will review complaints given to it by the public, Melissa Cherry, a coalition member said.

Investigations could be triggered by a complaint about police misconduct after a criminal case was concluded. The board would then have the power to subpoena witnesses, gather evidence and conduct interviews to make its own investigation of the case.

Then, the board could make recommendations to the police department regarding disciplinary actions.

The cost

The estimated cost for the board is $1.5 million annually and includes salaries needed for board staff.

Board members themselves would not be compensated for their time on the board.

The board would be funded, like any other department, through the Metro budget.

Mariah Timms contributed to this report. Reach Natalie Neysa Alund at nalund@tennessean.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.